Winter is a great time of the year. No more of those hot days of summer, just clean, clear air with an often snowy landscape outside. Unfortunately, it’s also the time of year when germs and bacteria are much easier to transport around. The chances of becoming sick are a lot higher now than at any other time of the year.
Today, we’ve put together some special cleaning advice to help you and your family stay germ-free during the coldest months of the year.
Wash your Hands
Hand washing is the easiest and most effective way to control germs from spreading in your home. It’s simple and effective. If every member of your family washes their hands regularly (especially the youngsters), you will help stop the spread of almost every type of germ.
The best way to wash your hands is by using warm, soapy water. Pay particular attention to getting in-between your fingers. Wash your hands as soon as you come in from outside to get rid of any germs that may have arrived with you from germ hot spots like door handles, coffee tables, shopping baskets, and other heavily touched areas.
Use Hand Sanitizer
A small bottle of hand sanitizer kept in your pocket or handbag can also make sure your hands stay germ-free. It won’t do as good a job as washing them with soap and warm water, but it’s certainly better than not using any protection at all.
Keep a bottle or two around the house as additional protection when running to the kitchen or bathroom is less convenient.
Disinfect Cleaning Cloths and Sponges
Washcloths and sponges that you clean with after every use. You can put them on the top shelf of your dishwasher or run them in the microwave for a few minutes. Another method is to drop them into boiling water with a disinfecting product for 10 or 15 minutes or even use the washing machine on the hot setting. The higher the water temperature is, the better it will work to kill bacteria.
Clean High-Touch Areas
All high traffic areas in your home need to be regularly cleaned and disinfected because they are used by everyone so much. These include every area you touch each day, such as remote controls, door handles, faucets, and countertops. Disinfect each of these areas often to help keep the germ population under control.
Put the Toilet Seat Down
Your toilets may be one of the most germ-infected places inside your home. Take the time to deep clean your toilets a minimum of once a week. Remember to put the lid down before flushing so bacteria and germs won’t splash up and land on other surfaces.
Those germs can remain alive for as much as a couple of hours.
Use a quality toilet brush that has strong bristles and room for the head to dry out and not get mildew buildup.
Dusting
You probably only notice dust when it becomes unsightly to the eye, but even a tiny bit of dust can be full of a massive number of germs. Dust and clean everything at least once a day to keep your home germ-free.
Don’t forget the windows, light bulbs, and fan blades that you can often forget since they can be hidden out of sight. And remember that sunlight is a natural disinfectant, so keep those curtains wide open to let plenty of it inside.
Use a Portable Heater
A portable heater will keep some of your home’s colder areas more toasty but remember they can also circulate excessive dust particles around in your home. Regularly check your vents and air ducts to make sure they stay lint and dust-free.
You could also save yourself the trouble by contacting a reputable maid and house cleaning service like Bestmaids. For a free consultation, call or text us at 708-599-7000.
Bedding and Towels
By changing your bedding and towels regularly, you’ll help cut down on the number of germs and bacteria in your home. Many experts recommend weekly washings. Those sheets and towels can attract dead skin cells, dust mites, and even fecal matter.
Don’t share your bedding and towels and when you finish with a towel and hang it where it can dry completely before you use it again. And don’t share your towel with anyone else or let it touch another towel while drying.
Invest in a Humidifier
A humidifier when it’s cold and dry during the winter months can really help you feel more comfortable. You will sleep better, breathe better, and cough a lot less with more moisture in the air. An added plus is that static electricity is a lot less of a problem when you have one of these running in your home. A good humidifier is not very expensive and can do a world of good for you and your family during the winter.
Clean the Carpets
Carpets and rugs should be deep cleaned at least once a year and vacuumed a minimum of twice a week. If there are high-traffic areas or if you have pets in the home, most experts recommend vacuuming daily.
Taking care of minute amounts of dust, dust buildup, allergens, and spills will not only make your carpet look better but reduce the chance of harmful germs in your home.
Install an Air Purifier
Most of the better-quality air purifiers use HEPA filters to clean and purify the circulating air in your home. HEPA filters are designed to trap small particles in the air that a vacuum cleaner can’t trap and will only recirculate into your home’s air supply.
Remove Shoes
More and more families are starting to make it customary to remove shoes when entering your home. You can make your home shoe-free by encouraging everyone to take their shoes off either at the door or in a small section immediately after the door where they can be stored.
This will keep the mud, germs, and excessive grime that can be stuck on them from messy storms you don’t want in your home especially during the winter.
During the colder winter months, you must try your best to keep your home germ free. With these basic steps, you will go a long way to keep germs from spreading in your home this winter.
Learn more about us!
If you live in the Chicago metro area and are interested in learning more about our home cleaning services and how we can help you maintain a safe and healthy living environment, please text or give us a call. Our number is 708-599-7000. Or contact us online, and we’ll give you a free house or office cleaning consultation.
